Vessel filling valve



March 25, 1952 R. F. QUAM VESSEL FILLING VALVE Filed Aug. 2, 1948 INVENTOR. l M?M H 7' TURA/2145'.

Patented lar. 25, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VESSEL FILLING VALVE Ranold F. Quam, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application August 2, 1948, Serial No. 41,995

' 12 Claims. 41

A, This invention relates to improvements in vessel lling valves. In lling vessels such as bottles or the like with certain liquids such as milk, the tendency of said liquids to foam seriously hampers the filling operation when conventional filling valves are'used. This foaming necessitates the slowing down of the filling operation to a rate at which a minimum amount of foam is produced in the vessel during the lling thereof. This slowing down of the iilling rate necessarily results in low efiicie'ncy.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a valve for rapidly filling vessels with laliquid,

the filling operation, when said valve is used, being substantially unaffected by the formation of foam from said liquid.

Itis a further object of the invention to provide avessel lling valve which provides for the intro duction. of a centrally located stream of liquid flowing at high velocity into the vessel and which also provides vent means for egress of air and foam out of the top of the vessel around said central stream of liquid. i

A further object of the invention is to provide a valve of the type described which loperates by being lowered into sealing'engagementwith the upper end of the vessel to be filled, rather than by having said vessel raised into operative relanon therewith. l

A further object of the invention is to provide a valve of the class described which may be quickly and easily disassembled and cleaned, and which is well adapted for use in the food industry.

A further object of the invention is to provide a vessel lling valve which is strong and durable,

which is fast and positive in its operation, and.

which is easy to manufacture and repair.

With these and other object in view, the inven'. tion consists of the` improved vessel llingvalve,

and all of its parts and combinations, as set forthv in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification, wherein is shown one complete embodiment of the preferred form of the invention and wherein the same reference numerals indicate the same parts in all the views;

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the improved valve showing it lowered into filling position rolo.l tive to a vessel; I Y.

'Fig'. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the im'- proved valve similar to Fig. l, showing the valve raised into shut-oil position;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional viewtaken along the line 3-v-3 of Fig. 2; A

Fig. 4 is a view taken along the line 4--4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail view of the lower seal. l

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I0 indicates the bottom of a tank or other receptacle which is adapted to supply the liquid for the vessels to be lled, and the numeral II indicates the improved vessel lling valve. The improved valve I I comprises an elongated tubular member I2 which may be of any suitable length and which may be formedat its upper end with athreaded shoulder I3. The receptacle I0 isvpre`f-V 1of the tube I2.

tube l2.

erably formed with an aperture I4 in the. bottom thereof, through which shoulder I3. extends and around the margin of which 'said bottom is formed with a downwardly sloping annular portion IS. The shoulder I3 is formed with an angularly outwardly and upwardly projecting flange I5;V the underside of which rests on the upper surface of the annular sloping portion I9 surroundingthe margin of the aperture I4. The tubular member I2 may have a portion of increasedv internal diameter I6 inwardly of the shoulder I3. An annular collar I'I is preferably threaded on the shoulder I3, and an annular gasket I8, of rubber or other suitable material, surrounds the shoulder I3 and is interposed between the collar I1 and the under side of the portion I9. The collar I1 is suiciently tightened on the shoulder I3 to prevent leakage past the gasket I8.

A substantially cylindrical stem 20having an outside diameter equal to the inside diameter of the tube I2 has one end'thereof inserted into' the lower end of the tube I2 and is fixed thereto. The lower end. oi the tube I2 and the upper end of the stem`20 are formed with an elongated slot 2| which extends diametrically therethrough, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. At its lower end the stern 20 is formed with a circumferential groove 22 in which is seated an annular sealing ring 23. i

Axially slidable on the tube I2 isan upper sleeve 24, 'and slidable on the lower vend of the upper sleeve 24 is a lower sleeve-25. Adjacent its upper end the sleeve 24 has a portion 26 withabore diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter At the upper end of the portion 26 the sleeve 24 is formed with an annular groove 2.1 in the bore thereof, in which is seated an.

annular sealing ring 28. Below the portion y2li the sleeve 24 is formed with a portion 29 which has a bore diameter substantially larger than the bore of the portion 26. Below the portion 29 the sleeve 24 is formed with a portion 30 having a' bore diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the stem 20 and having an' outside diameter approximately the same'as that of "the The lower end of the portion 30 communi-cates with a portion 3| having an increased wall thickness which forms a shoulder 32 at the upper end thereof. The portion 3| is formed with an external circumferential groove 33 in which is seated an annular sealing ring 34.

The lower sleeve 25 has a portion 35 which has an axial bore of substantially the same diameter as the outer diameter of the portion 29 of the sleeve 24. Below the portion 35 the sleeve 25 is formed with a chamber 36 of enlarged diameter. A conduit 31 preferably projects through the wall of the sleeve 25 and communicates with the interior of the chamber 36. A flexible tube 38 is connected to the outer end of the tube 31 and communicates by suitable connections (not shown) with any suitable receptacle or with the receptacle I at a point above the level of the fluid therein. Below the chamber 33, the sleeve is formed with a portion 39 having a bore diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the portion 3| ofthe, upper sleeve 24. The lower end of the portionr 39 terminates in an outwardly bevelled surface 4,0. Projecting outwardly and downwardly from the sleeve 25'adjacent the lower end of the, chamber. 36' is a cup shaped flange 4| which has an annular bevelled surface 42 at its lower end. The flange 4| has an inner diameter substantially larger than the outer diameter of the mouth. of the vessel 43 to be filled. An. annular sealing ring 44, having a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape, is seated' in the annular recess 45 formed by the cup-shaped ilange 4| inthe manner shown in Figs. 1 and12.

The sleeve 2'4 near its upper end is formed with an external annular shoulder 46 which is formed with a. circumferential groove 4l. The groove 41 is for the purpose of providing a means for the connection of an actuating yoke or lever (notshown)V which may telescopically reciprocate the sleeve 24' on the tube l2 for a purpose to be described hereinafter. The sleeve 25 is formed with an external. annular shoulder 48, and a helical compression spring 49 is positioned around the sleeves. 24 and' 25, with its ends abutting the shoulders 46. and 48 of said sleeves as shown in Figs..l andZ.

In operation, the` improved valve, when in raised or shut-01Tv position, is disposed asv shown in Fig. 2; are so arranged, .the stem20 with its sealing ring 22, is positioned in the bore of the portion of the sleeve 24. This sealsoi the tube I2 and preventsany liquid from passing down through said tube and out through the lower end of the sleeve 24'. At the same time,` the compression spring 49, bypressing, axially against the shoulders 46 and 48, forcesvthe sealing ring 34, which is on the lower end of the sleeve 24, against the bevelled surface on the lower end of the sleeve 25 (see Fig. 5). thereby sealing oi the lower end of the sleeve 25. The annular sealing ring is of such a size that it will not compress sufliciently to pass into the bore of the portion 39 of the sleeve 25.

When it is desired to rlll a vessel, such as the bottle 43, with I'iuid from the tank I8, the bottle is placed below the. lower end of the sleeve 24 in coaxial relationship therewith. The actuating lever (not shown) is then operated in a manner to force the sleeve 24 downwardly along the tube |2 to the position shown in Fig. l. This places the lower end portions 30 and 3| of the sleeve 24 in the neck of the bottle 43. It will be noted that the neck` of the bottle 43 is of substantially larger internal diameter than the outer diameter por- When the partsof the improved valve tion 3| of the sleeve 24 therein. Movement of the sleeve 24 downwardly causes the spring 49 to push the sleeve 25 downwardly therewith in an attempt to maintain the relative relationship between the two sleeves the same as that shown in Fig. 2. This relationship is maintained during downward movement of the sleeve 24 until the sealing ring 44 sealingly engages the mouth of the bottle 43 as shown in Fig. l. The downward movement of the sleeve 25 is thereby stopped, and further downward movement of the sleeve 24 brings about relative movement of the sleeves to the positions shown in Fig. 1. The spring 49 is compressed during this relative movement.

It will be noted that in Fig. 1 the stem 23 is no lon-ger positioned in the bore of the portion 30 and that the lower end of the sleeve 24 is no longer sealed off by the sealing ring 34. Fluid will therefore pass down through the tube I2 through the slot 2 I, through the bore of the por# tions 29 and. 30 intov the bottle 43. The fluid will be directed to the bottom of the bottle 43 in a solid fast moving stream. As uid so enters the bottle 43, the air in the bottle, as well as any foam created by the fluid, will pass upwardly around .the portion 3| of the sleeve 24 and through the bore of the portion 33 at the lower end of the sleeve 25, through the chamber 3.3, through the tube 31 and` ventA out through the tube 38 to a suitable receptacle, or back into the tank lil.

After-the. bottle 43 has been lled with liquid, the actuating lever is operated toraise the sleeve 24. This withdraws thelower end of the sleeve 24, from the bottle. As this is done, the spring 49 keeps the sealing ring 44 in sealing engagement with the mouth of the bottle 43 until the sealing ring 34` moves up into sealing engagement with the bevelled surface 40. Further upward movement ofthe sleeve 24 causes simultaneous upward movement of the sleeve 25 therewith due to the engagement ofthe ring 34 with the surface 40. Substantially simultaneously with the sealing oif of the lower end of the sleeve 25 by the sealing ring 34, the bore of the portion 30 of the sleeve 24 is sealed off by being moved upwardly to telescopically engage the stem 29 and its sealing ring 23. All flow of iluid, foam, and air through the valve is thereby stopped. Further upward movement of the sleeve 2.4 moves the sleeve 25 upwardly therewith to permit removal of. the filled bottle 43from its position therebelow.

It will be noted that the improved valve delivers a. large volume of liquid in a centrally located stream to the bottom of the vessel being filled, and that the liquid then rises in the bottle around the entering stream, driving the air and the foamoutof the top to be carried away through the, tube. 38.. Due. to the fact that the entering liquid is in the form'of a solid stream flowing at high velocity, the tendency of the fluid to foam is reduced and large bubbles are producedv which are easily-eliminated.

The improved valve does not require the raisingand lowering of a vessel before and after it is filled as was required' byl filling valves used heretofore. By reason of its novel construction, the improved valve is fast and positive in operation. It is easily disassembled and cleaned, and is well adapted for use in the food industries.

Various changes andV modications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. and all of such changes are contemplated Las lmay come within Ythe scope of the claims.

What I claim is: A

l. A vessel filling valve comprising a liquid inlet conduit, a first sleeve member telescopically slidableon said conduit, said'sleeve having an end portion insertable into a vessel to be filled, a'second sleeve telescopically slidable on said first mentioned sleeve, said second sleeve having a vessel-mouth-sealing portion and also having a vent, there being an annular space between said sleeves adjacent said mouth-sealing-means, said annular space communicating with said vent and with the vessel engaging side of said mouth-sealing-means when the sleeves are in one position of telescopic movement, means responsive to telescopic movement of said first sleeve in one direction on said inlet conduit for selectively preventing the flow of uid through said first sleeve, and means on said rst sleeve for selectively'sealing off'the annular space between said first and second sleeves.. l i r 2. A vessel filling valve comprising a liquid inlet conduit, .a first sleeve member telescopically slidable on said conduit, said sleeve having an end portion insertable into' alvessel to be filled, a second sleeve telescopically slidable on rsaid first mentioned sleeve, saidsecond sleeve having a vessel-mouth-sealing portion and also having a vent, there being an annular space between said sleeves adjacent said mouth-sealing means, said annular space communicating with said vent and with the, vessel engaging side of said mouth-sealing meansiwhen said sleeves are in one position of telescopic movement, means responsive to telescopicmovemen'tof said first sleeve in one direction on said inlet conduit for selectively preventing the flow of fluid through said first sleeve, means on said rst sleeve for sealing oi the annular space between saidv rst and second sleeves, and spring means acting against said rst and second sleeves for normally maintaining said annular space in sealed-off condition.

V3. A- vessel filling valve comprising a liquid inlet conduit, a first sleeve member telescopically slidable o'n said conduit, said sleeve having Yan end portion insertable into a vessel to be filled, a, second sleeve telescopically slidable on said flrst mentioned sleeve, said second sleeve having a vessel-mouth-sealing portion and also having a vent, there being an annular space between said sleeves adjacent said mouth sealing means, said annular space communicating with said vent and with the vessel engaging side of said mouth-sealing means when said sleeves are in one position of telescopic movement, a stem carried by said inlet conduit and positioned to selectively prevent the flow of iluid through said rst sleeve when said first sleeve is telescopically moved on said inlet conduit, and means on said first sleeve for selectively sealing off the annular spacebetween said rst and second sleeves.

4. A vessel iilling valve comprising a liquid inlet conduit, va rst sleeve member telescopically slidable onsaid conduit, said sleeve lhavingan external shoulder and having an end portion insertable into a vessel to be lled, a second sleeve telescopically slidable on said rst mentioned sleeve and also having an external shoulder, said second sleeve having a vessel-mouth-sealing portion and also having a vent, there being an annular space between said sleeves adjacent said mouth-sealing means, said annular space communicating with said vent and with the vessel engaging side of said mouth-sealing means when said sleeves are in one position of telescopic movement, a stein carried by said inlet conduit said rst and vsecond sleeves for urging said sleeves in opposite directions to normally maintain said annular space in sealed-01T condition.

5. A vessel filling valve comprising a liquid inlet conduit, a first sleeve member telescopically slidable on said conduit, said sleeve lhaving an external shoulder and having an end portion of reduced diameter insertable into a vessel to be filled, a second sleeve telescopically slidable on said first mentioned sleeve, and also having an external shoulder, said second sleeve having a vessel-mouth-sealing portion and also having a vent, there ybeing an annular space between said sleeves adjacent the portion of reduced diameter on said rst sleeve, said annular space communieating with said vent and with the vessel engaging side of said mouth-sealing means when said sleeves are in one position of telescopic movement, a, stem-carried by said inlet conduit and selectively sealingly insertable into the portion of reduced diameter of said first sleeve when said rst sleeve is moved in one direction on said inlet conduit for preventing the flow of fluid through said rfirst sleeve; means on said first sleeve for sealing off the annular space between said first and second sleeves, and a, spring engaging the shoulders of said first and second sleeves for urging said sleeves in oppositey directions to normally maintain said annular space inV sealed-ofi condition. x y

6. A vessel filling valve comprising a liquid inlet conduit, a first sleeve member telescopically slidable onsaid conduit, said sleeve having an external shoulder and having an end portion of re- ,duced diameter Ainsertable into a vessel to be lled, a second sleeve telescopically slidable on said rst mentioned sleeve and also having an external shoulder, said second sleevexbeing formed with a vent and with a cup shaped flange forming an annular recess, an annular vessel-mouthsealing ring positioned in said recess, there being an annular space between said sleeves adjacent said cup-shaped flange, said annular space communicating with said vent and with the vessel engaging side of said vessel-mouth-sealing ring when said sleeves are in one position of telescopic movement, a stem carried by said inlet conduit and'positioned to selectively prevent the flow of uid through said rst sleeve, means on said first sleeve for sealing off Ythe annular space betweensaid rstand'second'sleeves, and a spring engaging the shoulders of said iirst and second sleeves vfor urging said sleeves in opposite directions to` normally maintain said annular space in sealed-off condition.

7. A vessel filling .valve comprising a liquid inlet conduit, a iirst sleeve member telescopically slidable on said conduit, Vsaid sleeve having an external shoulder and having an end portion of reduced diameter insertable into a vessel to be filled, a second sleeve telescopically slidable on said first mentioned sleeve and also having an external shoulder, said second sleeve being formed with a vent and with a cup-shaped flange forming an annular recess, an annular vesselmouth-sealing ring positioned in said recess, there being an annular space between said sleeves adjacent said cup-shaped flange, said annular space communicating with said vent and with the vessel engaging side'of said vessel-mouthsealing ring when said sleeves are in one position of telescopic movement, a stem carried by said inlet conduit and selectively sealingly insertable into the portion of reduced diameter of said lirst sleeve when said first sleeve is moved in one direction on said inlet conduit for preventing the flow of fluid through said rst sleeve, means on said iirst sleeve for sealing off the annular space between said rst and second sleeves, and a spring engaging the shoulders of said rst and second sleeves for urging said sleeves in opposite directions to normally maintain said annular space in sealed-oir condition.

8. A Vessel filling valve comprising: a vertically extending liquid inlet conduit formed with an aperture in a sidewall portion'thereof adjacent its lower end; a stem xedly positioned in and closing the lower end of said inlet conduit; a iirst sleeve member telescopically slidable on said inlet conduit and having a portion of reduced diameter, said stem being operable, upon movement of said sleeve in one direction, to prevent the fiow of iiuid through said sleeve, and said sleeve ha"- ing its lower end portioninsertable into a vessel to be iilled; a second sleeve telescopically associated with said first sleeve and having a vessel mouth seal thereon provided with a vent; and

sealing means on the lower end portions of said rst and second sleeves cooperable in response to relative movement of said sleeves in one direction to close said vent.

9. A vessel iilling valve comprising: a vertically extending liquid inlet conduit formed with an aperture 'in a side wall portion thereof adjacent its lower end; a sleeve member having an upper end portion telescopically slidable on said inlet conduit and having an intermediate portion adjacent said inlet conduit aperture spaced outwardly from said conduit to form a fluid passage, said sleeve having a lower end portion of reduced diameter projecting below the lower end of said inlet conduit and insertable into a vessel to be iilled; a vessel mouth seal on said sleeve provided with a vent; and means closing the lower end of the inlet conduit and adapted to be sealingly inserted into the reduced lower end portion of said sleeveY upon movement of said sleeve in one direction to prevent the iiow of fluid through said sleeve.

10. A vessel iilling valve comprising: a vertically extending liquid inlet conduit formed with an aperture in a side wall portion thereof adjacent its lower end; a sleeve member having an upper end portion telescopically slidable on said inlet conduit and having an intermediate por tion adjacent said inlet conduit aperture spaced outwardly from said conduit to form a fluid passage, said sleeve having a lower end portion of reduced diameter projecting below the lower end of said inlet conduit and insertable into a vessel to be filled; a vessel mouth seal on said sleeve provided with a vent; and a stem xedly positioned in and closing the lower end of the inlet conduit and adapted to be sealingly inserted Gil into the reduced lower end portion of said sleeve upon movement of said sleeve in one direction to prevent the flow of iiuid through said sleeve.

11. Avessel iilling valve comprising: avertically extending liquid inlet conduit formed with an aperture in a side wall portion thereof adjacent its lower end; a sleeve member having an upper end portion telescopically slidable on said inlet conduit and having an intermediate portion adjacent said inlet conduit aperture spaced outwardly from said conduit to form a liuid passage, said sleeve having a lower portion of reduced diameter projecting below the lower end of said inlet conduit and insertable into a vessel to be filled; a vessel mouth seal on said sleeve spaced below inlet conduit and provided with a vent positioned to communicate with the interior of a bottle being iilled when said sleeve is in one position; a stem fixedly positioned in and closing the lower end of the inlet conduit and adapted to be sealingly inserted into the reduced lower end portion of said sleeve upon movement of said sleeve in one direction to prevent the iiow of iiuid through said sleeve; and means on said sleeve for preventing communication between said vent and both the interior of the bottle and the inlet conduit whenever the iiow of iiuid through the sleeve is stopped.

l2. A vessel filling valve comprising: a vertically extending liquid inlet conduit formed with an aperture in a side wall portion thereof adjacent its lower end; a sleeve member having an upper end portion telescopically slidable on said inlet conduit and having an intermediate portion adjacent said inlet conduit aperture spaced outwardly from said conduit to form a fluid passage, said sleeve having a lower end portion of reduced diameter projecting below the lower end of said inlet conduit and insertable into a vessel to be `filled; means closing the lower end of the inlet conduit and adapted to be sealingly inserted into the reduced lower end portion of said sleeve upon movement of said sleeve in one direction to prevent the flow of liuid through said sleeve; a second sleeve telescopically associated with said rst-mentioned sleeve and having a vessel mouth. seal thereon provided with a vent; and sealing means on the lower end portions of said iirst and last-mentioned sleeves cooperable in response to relative movement of said sleeves in one direction to close said vent.

RANOLD F. QUAD/i.

The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STAES FATENTS 

